Kahler receives Silver Medal Award

The Omaha Federation of Advertising (OFA) has recognized Jeff Kahler as the 2005 Silver Medal Award recipient for outstanding contributions to the advertising profession. Kahler, a 35-year advertising veteran, is chairman of advertising agency Ayres Kahler. The award was presented at the OFA's annual Addy Awards banquet earlier this month.

"This is a great honor that epitomizes the regard held of Jeff by his industry peers," said Mick Sibbel, president of Ayres Kahler. "Jeff has had an illustrious career and he has definitely made a mark within our industry."

Kahler's career began in radio when, in 1971, he declined acceptance to medical school, opting rather for a position as a copywriter and on-air talent with radio station KSOO in Sioux Falls, SD. He later joined a small four-person agency in Sioux Falls and helped grow it into the state's largest shop in just two years.

Kahler then joined agency Valentine Radford in Kansas City, crafting a campaign for Butler Buildings that landed him a national ADDY and Effie. From there Jeff moved into the consumer packaged goods arena, where he won a Clio Award-the highest award afforded within advertising creative.

Soon after, global advertising giant McCann Erickson recruited Kahler to Atlanta where he worked such national brands as ConTel, Georgia Pacific, Coke and Chick-fil-A. It was Kahler who coined the phrase "We didn't invent the chicken - just the chicken sandwich."

In 1983 he joined Swanson, Rollheiser, Holland and over the next several years, the Omaha office of that agency evolved and eventually became Kahler and Company in 1996. Kahler's agency then merged with Ayres and Associates of Lincoln in July, 2002. Kahler became chairman this past June when former CEO, Richard Young, retired.

His professional affiliations include an active role in the Worldwide Partners Advertising Association, the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), as well as the OAF. He is an ardent supporter of Junior Achievement, and a board member of the Visiting Nurses Association.

Organizations that have benefited from Jeff's creative talents and marketing savvy include the Susan Komen Race for the Cure, Mount Michael Benedictine School and Abbey, the Kim Foundation, Leadership Omaha, the Junior League of Omaha, and United Way.

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